Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Hard plastic in bought compost

Collapse

X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Hard plastic in bought compost

    I've bought 24 bags of J Arthur Bowers M/P compost which I have used for the last 4-5 years and this batch has a lot of bits of hard plastic through it. Even a pink plastic jewellery bead!

    Used 2 bags so far and both the same. Can anyone tell me if this is a problem and has anyone else come across it? Is it ok to go in with the soil in my veggie beds? Only used it in pots and troughs so far.

  • #2
    it's not a problem if you dont mind plastic bits. It is if you do.
    If it's bad, I'd write and complain.

    Comment


    • #3
      You can use it but if you have a few moments spare I would write a complaint. You have paid for a product that is contaminated with something you don't want. Quite often when you complain to companies they give you some kind of compensation. Too many of us just put up and shut up!

      Comment


      • #4
        This is why I stop using JAB compost there was so much rubbish in it, it used to be very good many years ago but when the problem stopped being a one off I switched.

        Comment


        • #5
          It's the same with a lot of compost now unfortunately, buying it off councils, only screening down to a certain level I bought a homebase own brand bag of compost last year for £1 (20l) and it was just woody matter with a little compost. If you look closesly you also find bits of plastic the odd stone and to make matters worse on the side of the bag is written - NOT RECOMMENDED FOR SEEDS OR SEEDLINGS......
          My new Blog.

          http://jamesandthegiantbeetroot.blogspot.com

          Comment


          • #6
            I would complain. Especially if it is supposed to be a reputable brand. If nobody complains they will carry on thinking everyone is willing to put up with it.

            Comment


            • #7
              I think we should just make our own!! (if we have the space that is for a compost heap)!!

              Comment


              • #8
                I would certainly complain Rossa, you should be compensated for the poor state. If you have the time, it might be worth sieving it for any delicate young plants? Much as I would love to make enough compost to prevent buying any I would be hard pressed to produce enough for the season. I only use my own compost for soil improvement.
                Granny on the Game in Sheffield

                Comment


                • #9
                  Thanks

                  I've spoken to a friend who has an allotment and he says the same that a lot of the 'value' composts have non organic material in them. That's even though this is branded not an own brand and even at £3.65 for 60 litres it's not mega cheap. And the supplier is a well established, local gardening supplies company, in a warehouse in an industrial estate, not a garden centre or chain like B&Q.

                  It does says on the bags you can use for sowing seeds, potting on etc so I'm only going to use it in pots for seedlings and things like potatoes, not my beds. May have to invest in a big sieve as domestic ones aren't really big enough. I am going to take it further out of interest as I can't see how they can claim hard plastic is compost as it isn't organic matter therefore not compostable. I do make my own but not enough to do everything. That does goes in the veggie beds.

                  At least it isn't as bad as a friend of mine who is a vegan, wanted to grow organically and the bulk compost she bought a couple of years ago had builder's rubble in so it turned to clay when she watered it!

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    This may put your mind at rest:...........a little.

                    J Arthur Bower’s Multi-Purpose Compost is a medium textured compost with added nutrients and lime, that is suitable for a wide variety of plants. The main exceptions are ericaceous plants such as rhododendrons, camellias, heathers and blueberries – these plants hate lime and will not thrive in limey conditions. Specialist plants such as cacti and succulents, carnivorous plants and alpines also appreciate special compost mixes. Our Multi-Purpose Compost can be used for sowing seeds, repotting houseplants and filling outdoor tubs and baskets. To prevent compaction in tubs and baskets, the compost does contain some coarse material – this can be sieved out when sowing fine seeds.
                    sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
                    --------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
                    -------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
                    -----------------------------------------------------------
                    KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      that is funny...they found a nice excuse... so let put plastic in potsto prevent compaction..

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Why not?..........I put broken up polystyrene in the bottom of my pots to help drainage.
                        sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
                        --------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
                        -------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
                        -----------------------------------------------------------
                        KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Maybe they don't mean the plastic is coarse material but "added nutrients"!
                          "Arthur Bower’s Multi-Purpose Compost is a medium textured compost with added nutrients and lime"

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Like others I've used JAB for years but the last few have been dreadful. I swapped to another known brand and that was as bad too, full of hairy coarse and woody bits and it needed sieving for everything. This year I have tried B & Q's own brand and have been pleasantly surprised. Still has woody bits in but very fine so not a problem. the seedlings seem to be doing OK on it so fingers crossed it will be worth swapping.
                            Last edited by Sanjo; 30-03-2012, 12:11 PM.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              I make most of my own compost but even that is no defence against bits of plastic. Because the material is everywhere around us and not easily broken down little bits of the stuff get blown about by the wind and end up on the garden/compost heap. I also gather seaweed and this invariably contains bits of floating plastic debris. Thankfully most plastics are inert but if it bothers you just pick it out.

                              Comment

                              Latest Topics

                              Collapse

                              Recent Blog Posts

                              Collapse
                              Working...
                              X